Jamaica finished second in Heat Two, while Trinidad and Tobago placed third in Heat One of the men’s 4×400 metres at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday (August 6) to advance to the final of the event.

The Jamaicans were out of the contention to progress as one of the three automatic spots from the heats, but an excellent final-leg run by Nathon Allen took them from fourth to second to finish behind winners Poland.

Demish Gaye, who made it to the semi-finals of the 400 metres was in a close battle on the first hand over to 400 metres hurdles semi-finalist Jaheel Hyde, who at the cut over after 500 metres was in fourth for Jamaica.

Jamaica maintained the fourth position on the third leg run by Karayme Bartley until Allen passes France fairly early on the final leg and then ran hard to pass Belgium on the line.

Jamaica finished in 2:59.29 minutes, with Poland doing 2:58.55 for victory as Belgium grabbed the third automatic qualifying spot from the heat in 2:59.37. All these times were season bests.

The Jamaicans, with the seventh-fastest time going into the final, will have 400 metres sixth-place finisher in the individual event, Christopher Taylor, to add for the final, which will take place on Saturday.

The Trinidadian quartet of Deon Lendore, Jereem Richards, Machel Cedenio and Dwight St Hillaire clocked a season’s best time of 2:58.33s to finish behind the United States and Botswana.

The Americans, through Trevor Stewart, Randolph Ross, Bryce Deadmon and Vernon Norwood, breezed through the heat to clock a season-best of 2:57.77.